Automatic combined turning lathe and sander for woodwork



6 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 15, 1929. A. 1.. BROWN AUTOMATIC COMBINED TURNING LATHE AND SANDER FOR WOODWORK Filed Dec. 1928 AOLI-IBIO A. L. BROWN Oct. 15, 1929.

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A. L. BROWN Oct. 15, 1929.

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AUTOMATIC COMBINED TURNING LATHE AND SANDER FOR WCODWORK Filed Dec. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet A.Z Brau/Iz gwwrm A. L. BROWN Oct. 15, 1929.

AUTOMATIC COMBINED TURNING LATHE AND SANDER FOR WOODWORK Filed Dec. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet r Qua/map.

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AUTOMATIC COMBINED TURNING LATHE AND SANDER FOR WOODWORK Filed Dec, 6, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet UNETE 1,73Z,ll9

PATENT QFFECE ABNER L. BROWN, 01? ELKIN, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR T0 AB BROWN INCORPO RATED, OF ELKIN,

NORTH. CAROLINA.

AUTGMATIG CUMEINED TURNING LATHE AND SANDER. FOR WOODWORK Application filed December 6, 1928. Serial No. 324,144.

This invention aims to provide a machine in which objects may be turned out in a lathe, and be smoothed ofi or sandpapered before they leave the machine. The invention aims, further, to improve the construction of the sander, the cutter, the lathe, and other cooperating parts oi the machine.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

l Vith the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description procoeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, with in the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation in which one end of the machine is shown;

Figure 2 is an elevation showing the opposite end of the machine from that which appears in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section wherein parts appear in elevation;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure .5 is a. transverse section of the sander;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan of the sander;

Figure 7 is a perspective view disclosing one of the parts which steady the work during the turning operation;

Figure 8 is a fragmental plan showing the means whereby reciprocation is imparted to the sander, with respect to the work;

Figure 9 is a fragmental elevation disclosing a part of the driving mechanism;

Figure 10 is a section'in which one of the lathe centers is disclosed in relation to a cam that operates the center;

Figure 11 is an elevation disclosing portions of the gearing.

F igure 12 shows the machine in top plan.

The machine comprises a bed which is denoted, generally, by the numeral 1. The bed 1 supports a frame, marked, generally, b the letter F. The frame includes a stan ard 2 which is secured (Fig. 4.), as shown at 3, upon the bed 1. The framework of the machine comprises a standard 4 which is mounted at 5 (Figs. 3 and 4) on the bed 1 for adjustment toward and away from the fixed standard 2. In order to secure the aforesaid adjustment, a screw 6 is threaded into the standard 4 and is held at 6" for rotation, but against longitudinal movement, in one end of the bed 1 (Fig. 4-). The screw 6 may be rotated by means of ahand wheel 7. The reason for moving the standard 4 toward and away from the standard 2 is to adapt the machine for the reception of work of different lengths, an observation which may be understood readily when the lathe centers 37 and 47 of Figure 4 are noted.

The machine comprises a sander denoted,

generally, by the letter S (Figs. 3 and 4),-

the sander being shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6. It is desirable to reciprocate the sander S from left to right, and from right to left, in Figure 4, in order that the sander may operate properly upon the work. Having this consideration in mind, a pair of parallel slide rods 8 are supported at 9 (Fig. 2) on the frame F of the machine for right line reciprocation. A. yoke 10 (Figs. 8 and. 1) connects the slide rods 8 at one side of the machine (Fig. 4), one end of a lever 11 being pivoted at 12 to the yoke 10.

The lever 11 is fulcrumed at 14 intermediate its ends on a bracket 15 (Fig. 1) secured to the framework of the machine. The lever 11 terminates in a fork 16 which cooperates with a cam wheel '17 on a shaft 18 (Figs. 1 and 8). The shaft 18 is journaled on the frame of the machine and carries a pulley 19, about which is engaged a belt 20 driven by a motor 21 mounted on the framework.

As to the detailed construction of the sandor S, it appears from Figures 5 and 6 that the sander embodies a pair of parallel arcuate end bars 22 having seats 23 which receive the slide rods 8. Set collars 24 are mounted on the rods 8 and cooperate with one of the end bars 22 to hold the sander S on the rods 8,

so that when the rods 8 are reciprocated in the direction of their length by the mechanism shown in Figure 8, the sander S will reciprocate, with respect to the sides of the machine (Fig. 4).

The sander S includes cross bars 25, in the form of angle members, joining the arcuate end members 22. The end members 22 are connected by bars 26 against which are held flexible attrition elements 27, which may be strips of sandpaper, or equivalent ma terial. Clamp screws 28 are threaded into the cross bars 25, and serve to press jaws 29 against the sanding strips 27, the sanding strips being thereby clamped against the bars 26.

Flexible siapports 30 for the sandin strips 27 are provi and may be in the orm of brushes 30 secured to heads 31 which are pivotally mounted at 32 on the end members 22 of the sander S. Adjusting screws 33 are threaded into the cross bars and engage the heads 31 to swing them up and down, thereby to raise and lower the supports and the sanding strips 27, with res ect to the work, as occasion may require, igure 5 being compared with Figure 3 at this point.

A main shaft 34 (Figs. 4, 2, and 1) is jour- Iialed for rotation in the standards 2 and 4. A rotary tail stock 35 (Figs. 2' and 4) is secured to the shaft 34 and turns with the shaft. Transverse guides 36 are carriedby the tail stock 35, one of the uides being shown in 7 detail in Figure 10. lathe center 37, in the form of a rod, is mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in each guide 36. The lathe center 37 is advanced to the right in 'Figure 10 by a compression spring 38 located within the guide 36. I

The centers 37 have rectangularl disposed arms 39 which move in slots 40 in t e ends of the guides 36. On the arms 39, rollers 41 are journaled, rollers 42 being journaled on the outer ends of the lathe centers 37. A cam 43 (Figs. 10 and 2) is mounted on the frame F of the machine and cooperates with the rollers 42'on the outer ends of the lathe centers 37.

The machine includes a cutter C (Figs. 2 and 12), and the purpose of the cam 43 is to set the centers 37 firmly and securely in v the work just before the work is operated on by the cutter C. The springs 38 serve to set the centers 37 in the work as the work is picked up and carried off the delivery mechanism D, but the cam 43 is useful in that it insures a firm hold of the centers 37 on the work, before the work is engaged with the cutterO. Acam44 (Figs. 2 and 3) is mounted on the frame F of the machine ata point near to the delivery mechanism D. This cam 44 cooperates with the roller 41 to pull back the lathe centers 37, thereby to permit the lathe centers to drop a piece of work that has been finished and to take up a new piece of work from the delivery mechanism D.

A rotary head stock 45 (Figs. 4 and 1) is secured to the shaft 34 and turns with that shaft, along with the tail stock 35. The head stock 45 has transverse bearings 46 in which are journaled shafts 47, constituting lathe centers. Rotation is imparted to the shafts 47, thereby to rotate the work, through the instrumentality of pulleys 48 secured to the outer ends of the shafts 47.

The Work is supported by the centers 37 and 47, to turn on an axis. The work also is moved around in an orbit, and at two places in this orbit, the centers 47, and the work, must be rotated. One of these places is at the bottom of the machine where the work passes across the sander S (Fig. 3), and the other place is where the work comes into the field of operation of the cutter C.

As to the means for rotating the centers 47, and the work, with respect to the sander S, Figure 1 and Figure 4 show that pulleys 48 are secured to the outer ends of the lathe centers 47. When the shaft 34, together with the tail stock 35 and the head stock 45 are rotated to carry the work around in an orbit, the pulleys 48 come into contact with a belt 49, shown in Figure 1. The belt 49 is engaged about an idler 50, supported for'rotation on the frame, and the belt is driven by a pulley 21* on the motor 21. As to the means whereby the centers 47 are rotated to turn the work as the work comes into the field of operation of the cutter C, it appears in Figure 11 thata pinion 51 is secured to the shaft 18. The pinion 51 meshes with a gear wheel 52 on a shaft 53 carrying a friction wheel 54 adapted to cooperate with the pulleys 48 on the shafts or lathe centers 47. The shaft 53 is journaled in a bell crank lever 55 mounted to swing on the shaft 18 (Fig. 9). A retractile spring 56 is connected at its upper end to one arm of the bell crank lever 55, and is connected at its lower end to. the machine frame.

The work should be supported as it is operated on by the cutter C, and for this purpose.

there is provided a mechanism shown in Figure 3 and'including'a long lever 57 which is fulcrumed at 58 (Figs. 3 and 4) upon the main shaft 34. A screw 59 is held in adj'usted'positions in the outer end ofthe lever by nuts 60, and cooperates with the frame of the machine to tilt the long lever 57 and adjust its position. A bell crank lever 61 is fulcrumed on theinner end of the long lever 57 for tilting movement: The bell crank lever 61 carries a seat 62 which engages beneath the workwhile the work is being operated on by the cutter C. A retractile spring 63 is connected to the bell crank lever 61 and to the lever 57, as shown in Figure 3, and holds the seat 62 yieldingly underneath the work, the construction being such, however, that as the work is carried around in an orbit, it can tilt the bell crank lever 61 and pass by the bell crank lever.

A mechanism is provided whereb the main shaft 34, the tail stock 35, and the ead stock 45 are rotated, thereby to carry the work on the spindles 37 and 47 around in an orbit over the sander S (Fig. 3) and into the field of operation of the cutter C. This mechanism comprises a shaft 64 (Figs. 1 and 11) carrying a gear wheel 65 meshing with a pinion 66 on the shaft 18.

An eccentric 67 is secured to the shaft 64 and is surrounded by a strap 97 which carries a stop 68 slidable loosely in a guide 69 sup orted at 98 on the frame. A short dog 70 1s pivoted at 71 to the strap 97 and is adapted to cooperate with outer projections 72 (Figs. 4 and 1) on a wheel 73 secured to one end of the shaft 34. The wheel 73 has inner projections 74 adapted to cooperate with a long dog 75 which is pivoted at 76 to a crank disk 77 on the inner end of the shaft 64 (Fig. 11)

An inclined releaser 78 (Figs. 3 and 4) is carried by the framework and cooperates with the cam 44 in settin the material free from the lathe spindles 3 and 47, after the turning and sanding of the material has been completed.

Reference has been made hereinbefore to the delivery mechanism D. The delivery mechanism D includes a pair of angle members or rails 79, adjustably supported at 80 on the machine frame. At the inner ends of the rails 79 there are stop blocks 81, shown in Figures '3 and 4. The rails 79 are providedwith holddown brackets 82 that overhang the horizontal flanges of the inclined g g rails 79.

As to the cutter C, it embodies a base 83 carried by the bed 1 of the machine, as shown in Figure 3. A shaft 84 is supported for rotation on the base 83, and is connected by a belt 85 and pulleys 86 (Fig. 2) with a motor87 carried b the base 83.

A polygonal hub 88 is secured to the shaft 84 and has T-shaped slots 89 extended inwardly from its ends. In the slots 89 are mounted securing elements 90, such as bolts.

engaged at 91 (Fig. 7) with U-shaped brackets 92 carrying curved gages 93. The slots 89 receive securing elements 94, such as bolts, retaining blade holders 95 on the hub 88, the blade holders 95 carrying blades 96.

The device is adapted to be used for turning out round objects of many kinds, such as table legs, stair rail spindles, and the like. The stock is placed on the inclined rails 79 of the delivery mechanism D, and slides down into contact with the stop blocks 81 of Figures 3 and 4. It is from this place that the stock is picked up and carried around in an orbit, first to be operated on by the cutter C, and then to be operated on by the sander S.

When any one piece of stock, in contact with the stops 81, is picked up and carried around in an orbit, the brackets 82 hold down the next adjoining piece of stock and prevent it from being pulled off the rails 79 by frictional contact with the piece of stock that has been carried away in an orbit to be worked upon.

WVhen the shaft 34 is rotated, together with the tail stock 35 and the head stock 45, the roller 41 on the outer end of the lathe center 38 rides up on the cam 44 which is shown in Figures 2 and 4. This pulls the lathe center 37 outwardly. After the roller 41 moves clear of the cam 44, the lathe center 37 moves inwardly, and the piece of material on the rails 79 of the delivery mechanism D is engaged at its ends by the lathe center 37 on the tail stock 35 and the lathe center 47 on the head stock 45. When the head stock and the tail stock move around in an orbit, as the shaft 34 is rotated, the work is carried around toward the cutter C.

The spring 38 of Figure 10 is strong enough to set the lathe center 37 in the end of the piece of stock, but in order that the stock may be gripped securely between the lathe centers 37 and 47, the roller 42 on the outer end of the lathe center 37 comes into contact with the cam 43, as in Figure 10, and the inner end of the lathe center 37 is shoved into the end of the piece of material.

The piece of material is held between the lathe centers 37 and 47 and comes into contact with the seat 62 (Fig. 3) on the bell crank lever 61, and in this way, the work is supported yieldingly whilst the blades 96 of the rotary cutter are trimming off the stock. The shaft 84, the hub 88, the blades 96, and the a es 93 are rotated from the motor 87 by the belt 85 of Figure 2, and the work is turned off, and shaped to the desired contour by the blades 96. The gages 93 engage the work as it is being turned down, and the function of the gages 93 is to prevent an hacking and marring of the work, due to a Jumping action of the blades 96 when a knot or hard place is encountered.

Not only is the cutterC rotated with respect to the work, but the work is rotated with respect to the cutter whilst the cutter is shaping the work.

From the motor 21, rotation is imparted to the shaft 18 by way of the belt 20 and the pulley 19 (Fig. 1). When the shaft 18 (Fig. 11) is rotated, the pinion 51 and the gear wheel 52 drive the shaft 53, and the friction wheel 54 turns the lathe spindle 47 by way of the pulley 48, the friction wheel 54 being held against the pulley 48 because the bell crank 55 (Fig. 9) that carries the shaft 53 responds to the action of the spring 56.

The work is now carried around an orbit, across the attrition strips 27 of the sander S (Figs. 5 and 3), the supports 30 holding the strips 27 up in contact with the work. The

work moves in an orbit over the sanding strips 27, but the work, as well, is turned on an axis represented by the lathe centers 37 and 4,7. This turning movement is accomplished by a mechanism shown in Figure 1 and includin the motor 21. and the belt 49 that is loope around the idler 50, the motor 21 driving the belt, and the belt having contact with the pulley 48 on the outer end of the lathe center 47, rotation thus being imparted to the lathe center and the work, as the work is carried across the sander S.

As the rotor (comprisin the shaft 34, the tail stock 35, and the head stock 45) turns, the lathe center 37 gets up to a place where the roller 39 on the center 37 rides along the cam 44, as shown in Figure 2 and 3. This operation retracts the lathe center 37 in the guide 36 and sets the work free, but if, for any reason, the Work should happen to hang in the centers 37 and 47, the releaser 78 (F gs. 3 and 4) will engage the work intermediate its ends and loosen it from the lathe centers.

Comparing Figures 1 and 11, when the shaft 18 is rotated by the belt 20 and the motor 2], the eccentric 67 is rotated and the crank disk 77 is rotated also.

When the crank disk 77 is rotated, the dog 75 cooperates with the projections 74 on the wheel 73 to impart rotation to the shaft 34 and to the stocks 35 and 45, the work being carried around in an orbit, The dog 7 5 operates to move the work in an. orbit somewhat quickly, and during this initial orbital movement of the work, the work is roughed down by the blades 96 of the cutter C. By the time that the dog 75 has ceased to exercise its function, the dog 70 begins to operate, the dog 70'rot'ating the shaft 34 by way of the projections 79; on the wheel 73. Because the do atc d by the strap 97 and the eccentric 67, the rotation of the shaft 34 is slowed up, and the orbital movement of the work is slowed up, as the blades 96 of the cutter 0 do their final work in finishing off the article that is carried by the centers 47 and 37. The stop 68 cooperates with the projections 72 on the wheel 73 to prevent the shaft 34: and the stocks 35 and 45 from being turned around too far by the action of the dogs 75 and 70, but the stop 68 is retracted by the strap 97 in time so that the stop does not 1nterfere with the rotation of the shaft 34 and associated parts by the dogs.

As the work moves in an orbit across the sander, the sander is shifted back and forth transversely of the machine, the rods 8 which carry the sander S being reciprocated by a mechanism including the yoke 10, the lever 11 of Figure 8, the cam wheel 17, and the shaft 18. t I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is e 1, In a combined lathe and sander, a sup- 70 has a short throw and is oper port, a rotor journaled on the support, work holders carried by the rotor, a cutter on the support, a sander on the support, means for rotating the rotor to bring the work first to the cutter and then to the sander, means for rotating the holders and the work as the work moves in an orbit and whilst the work is in the field of operation of the cutter, and a mechanism independent of the work holders for supporting the work yieldably whilst the work is in the field of operation of the cutter, said mechanism comprising a first lever and a fulcrum therefor, adjusting means cooperating with the first lever to tilt it with respect to the work, a second lever fulcrumed on the first lever, a work-engaging seat on the second lever, and a spring means connected to the levers for holding the seat in the path of the work.

2. In a combined lathe and sander, a support, a rotor journaled on the support, work holders carried by the rotor, a cutter on the support, a sander on the support, means for rotating the rotor to bring the work first to the cutter and then to the sander, means for rotating the holders and the work as the work moves in an orbit and whilst the work is in the field of operation of the cutter, a lever and a fulcrum therefor, the lever constituting mechanism independent of the work holders and of the rotation of the rotor and located for sustaining the work yieldably whilstthe work is in the field of operation of the cutter, spring means connected to the lever for holding the lever yieldably in worksustaining position whereby when the work moves in its orbit out of the field of the cut ter, the lever will tilt and permit the work to move clear of the lever.

3. In a combined lathe and sander, a support, a rotor journaled on the support, work holders carried by the rotor, a cutter on the support, a sander on the support, means for rotating the rotor to bring the work first to the cutter and then to the sander, means for rotating the holders and the work as the work moves in an orbit and whilst the work is in the field of operation of the cutter, a lever and a fulcrum therefor, the lever constituting mechanism independent of the work holders and of the rotation of the rotor and located for sustainin the work yieldably whilst the work is in t e field of operation of the cutter, means for car ing the fulcrum of the lever movably Mill adjustably, and sprin means connected to the lever for holding t e lever ieldably in work-sustaining position where y when the work moves in its orbit out of the field of the cutter, the lever will tilt and permit the work to move clear of the lever.

4. In a combined lathe and sander, a support, a rotor, means for 'ournaling the rotor, said means including a s aft mounted on the support, work holders carried by the rotor,

a cutter on the support, a sander on the support, means for rotating the rotor to bring the work first to the cutter and then to the sander, means for rotating the holders and the work as the work moves in an orbit and whilst the work is in the field of operation of the cutter, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the shaft of the rotor for adjustment, a work-engaging means mounted movably on one end of the lever and located for sustaining the work whilst the work is in the field of operation of the cutter, spring means connected to the work-engaging means for holding the work-engaging means yieldably in work-sustaining position whereby when the work moves in its orbit out of the field of the cutter, the work-engaging means will move and permit the work to pass by, and mechanism connected to the opposite end of the lever for tilting the lever for adjustment, thereby to change the position of the work-engaging means with respect to the cutter. I

5. In a combined lathe and sander, a support, a rotor journaled on the support, work holders carried by the rotor, a cutter on the support, a sander on the support, means for rotating the rotor to bring the work first to the cutter and then to the sander, means for rotating the holders and the work as the work moves in an orbit and whilst the work is in the field of operation of the cutter, and worksupnorting means comprising a yieldable element having a fixed axis of yield adjacent the field of operation of the cutter, which axis is adjustable about the axis of rotation of the rotor.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

' ABNER L. BROWN. 

